Interconnected hoops and targets

ABSTRACT

Hoop games utilizing hoop assemblies intended to be pitched or thrown through the air toward a target where points are scored depending upon the engagement between the hoop assembly and the target. The hoop assembly may take the form of a plurality of hoops secured together in rigidly connected form or chain form and wherein the hoops may be of different colors. The hoops are molded of plastic. In one embodiment, sticks are provided for propelling the hoop assembly through the air, and in other embodiments, the hoop assembly is propelled through the air by being pitched or thrown by a player. The target may be in the form of sticks held by a player or in the form of stakes mounted on a ground or floor supported base.

United States Patent 1 91' Duncan 1111 3,823,942 July 16, 1974INTERCONNECTED'HOOPS AND TARGETS [75] Inventor: Aldred D. Duncan,Elmhurst, I11.

[73] Assignee: Duncanlite Laboratory, Inc., Villa 'Park, Ill.

22 Filed: 06641972 [21] Appl. No.: 311,510

52 us. (:1 273/100, 273/104, 273/106 B, a 273/96 B [51] 1111.01 A63b71/02 [58] Field 61 Search 273/95 R, 96 B, 100, 104, 273/106 R, 106 B[56] References Cited UNITED STATES, PATENTS 6/1899 Kroscher 273/1001,230,503 6/1917 Miller 273/100 1,926,612 9/1933 -Day 273/106 R3,014,723 12/1961 Butler 273/102 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS-21,382 10/1908 "0166181116111 273/109 646,971 8/1962 Canada 273/1093/1942 Germany 273/106 B 112,416 10/1925 Switzerland 273/100 103,7552/1917 Great Britain 273/96 B Primary Examiner-Richard C. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lockwood,Dewey, Zickert & Alex 5 7] ABSTRACT Hoop games utilizing hoop assembliesintended to be pitched or, thrown through the air toward a target wherepoints are scored depending upon the engagement between the hoopassembly and the target. The

hoop assembly may take the form of a plurality of hoops securedtogether-in rigidly connected form or chain form and wherein the hoopsmay be of different colors. The hoops are molded of plastic. In oneembodiment, sticks are provided for propelling the hoop assembly throughthe air, and in other embodiments, the hoop'assembly is propelledthrough the air by being pitched or thrown by a player. The target maybe in the form of sticks held by a player or in the form of stakesmounted on a ground or floor supportedv base.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHBIW I 3.823842 SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG!PATENTED JUL 1 61974 SHEET 2 0F 3 INTERCONNECTED HOOPS AND TARGETS Thisinvention relates in general to games of skill playable indoors oroutdoors with hoop assemblies and targets and more particularly to'hoopassemblies having a plurality of hoops connected together of differentcolors to provide a different point count depending upon the engagementof a hoop or hoops with a target.

The hoop assembly of the invention may be in' the form of a plurality ofhoops rigidly connected to each other or connected to each other inchain form. The hoops are molded preferably of high, mediumor lowdensity polyethylene. Where the hoop assembly includes a plurality ofhoops rigidly connected together, a center hoop is provided with outerhoops connected thereto at circumferentially spaced points to definesymmetrical assembly. Each hoop may be of a different color so that adifferent point count can be applied to each hoop. When the hoopassembly is in chain form, a center hoopvis provided of one color andtwo outer hoops connected to the center hoop of different colors.

The target may be in different forms. In one form a pair of sticks issupplied to each player and manipulated first to propel the rigid hoopassembly through the air and then to be caught on a stick of the otherplayer. Another form of target for the rigid hoop assembly is a basehaving a number of stakes equal in number to that of the hoops of thehoop assembly extending upwardly and also of various colors and of thesame colors as the hoops in the hoop assembly. When the chain hoopassembly is employed, the target may be in the form of a base havingthree upstanding stakes of different colors and of the same colors asthe hoops in the chain hoop assembly. Where the ground supported targetsare provided, the hoop assemblies will be propelled through the air bypitching them with the arm of a player. Y

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a varietyof games utilizing hoop assemblies and targets where the game pieces aremolded of a suitable plastic and where the hoop assemblies and thetargets have different colors to facilitate point count situations whereplaying the games.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a hoop assemblythat may be easily and economically made and assembled for use in a hoopgame.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a target assemblyfor a hoop game that may be easily and economically manufactured ofmolded plastics.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals referto like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two players engaged in the playing ofone of the hoop games of the invention wherein each player is providedwith a pair of sticks for propelling and catching the hoop assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the hoop assembly employed inthe game illustrated as being played in FIG. 1 and with one of the hoopsbroken away and exploded to illustrate the construction;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged detail sectional view taken along line 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the sticks employed in the hoopgame illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of-a player engaged in the playing ofanother of the hoop games according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a target assembly for the gameillustrated in FIG. 6, with some parts omitted and some parts inexploded view;

FIG. 8 isan enlarged sectional view taken through the target assembly ofFIG. 7 and illustrating the manner in which the assembly may be anchoredto the ground during play;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a player engaged in the play'of anotherof the hoop games according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the hoop assembly used in thehoop game illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. '11 is a greatly enlarged detail sectional view taken along line11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail exploded view of the coupling shown inFIG. 11.

FIG. 1 illustrates the hoop game according to the invention that may betermed Flying Hoops, wherein a player 15 holds a pair of sticks 16, onein each hand, in engagement with a hoop assembly 17 to propel samethrough the air toward the second player 18, who also holds a pair ofsticks 16 for catching the hoop assembly 17 by aligning the end of onestick with a hoop of the hoop assembly being propelled to engage andcatch the hoop assembly. A hoop'assembly 17a is shown in dotted lines inthe air about to be caught by the player l8. The sticks 16 held by thereceiving player therefore constitute a target assembly toward which theplayer 18 directs the hoop assembly 17 when it is propelled by himthrough the air.

The sticks 16, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, include a hoop engaging portion20 extending nearly the entire length thereof and a handle portion 21 tobe engaged by the hand of the player. While the cross-section of thehoop engaging portion 20 is shown in FIG. 5 to be in the form of across, it can be appreciated that it can take other cross-sectionalconfigurations. The sticks 16 may be made of any suitable plastic, suchas highimpact polystyrene.

The hoop assembly 17 includes a center loop 24 and outer hoops 25, 26,27 and 28. Each of the hoops is preferably injection molded of asuitable plastic such as a high, medium or low density polyethylene.Further, each hoop is of a different color. For example, the hoop 24 maybe white; the hoop 25 yellow; the hoop 26 green; and so on. Preferably,the outer hoops are only of two colors wherein the hoop 27 would also beyellow and the hoop 28 green. The center hoop 24 is provided with foursets of pins 30 having enlarged heads. The cross-section of each hoop ischannel shaped, and the pins extend from the closed side of the channel,as seen in FIG. 2. Each of the outer hoops is provided with sockets 31in the form of holes adapted to allow the outer hoops to be snapped ontothe pins 30 in the fashion shown in FIG. 3 and thereby locked in placerigidly to form the rigid hoop assembly. Thereafter, if desired, theheads of the pins 30 may be subjected to a heated tool for initiallysoftening and thenspreading the plasan assembly.

It can now be appreciated that a complete set of equipment for the gameFlying Hoops would include one hoop assembly 17 and two pairs of sticks16. The game would be played by having one player-take the hoop assemblyand insert the pair of sticks through the center hoop 24 and thencrossing the sticks as shown in FIG. 1 by the player 15. Gently forcingthe sticks 16 apart will then cause the hoop assembly to be thrown intothe air toward the other player. The second player 18 would then spearor catch a hoop of the hoop assembly if it is coming down with one ofhis sticks. Depending uponwhich' hoop is speared, a point count will beawarded to the receiving player. For example, the yellow hoops may beworth one point, thegreen hoops two points, and the white hoops threepoints. A game total of 21 points exactly may be the desired finalresult for a winner. Quite obviously, in the event that the hoopassembly is not caught on a stick of a player, no

' points would be awarded. The gamemay be played so that if a playergoes over 21 points he would lose. Further, the game may be playedbetween two or more players, indoors or outdoors, as shown in FIG. 1, orovera net if so desired. Y

Another hoop game according to .the invention is being illustrated by aplayer in FIG. 6 wherein a hoop assembly 17B, identical to the hoopassembly17-in.

FIG. 2, is employed as part of the gameequipment, together with a targetassembly 35. Details of the target assembly are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8wherein it includes generally a base 36 and a plurality of stakes orpins37, 38, 39, 40'and 41. The player 42 in FIG. 6 is shown in positionat the completion of a throw of a hoop assembly 1713 toward the targetassembly 35. Complete game'equipment may include a pair of targetassemblies 35 and a single hoop assembly or a plurality of hoopassemblies where two or more players can be throwing the hoop assembliesback and forth.

The game played with the game equipment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, whichwould include one or more of the hoop assemblies and one or more of thetarget assemblies, may be called Hoop-a -Loop. In this respect, each ofthe stakes may be referred to as candles. Each stake is of a differentcolor and thereby provided with a different point value. For example,the candle stake 37 may be white with a point value of five points,while the other stakes, respectively, of different colors and differentpoint values, such as stake 38 being blue and worth four points, stake39 being yellow and worth one point, stake 40 being red and worth threepoints, and stake 41'being'green and worth two points. Similarly, thehoops of the hoop assembly 178 would be of different color whereinthehoop 24 may be white, the hoop 25 may be blue, the hoop 26 may beyellow, the hoop 27 may be red and the hoop 28 may be green. The objectof the game would be to throw the hoop assembly so that as many of thehoops as possible fall over as or more of the stakes of differentcolors, only the regu- The base 36 includes a hub 47 having a stakesocket 48 and a plurality of arms 49, 50, 51 and 52 extending radiallyfrom the hub and in circumferentially equally v spaced relation relativethereto. Each of the arms includes, respectively, stake sockets 53, 54,55 and 56 which are adapted to respectively receive the stakes 38, 39,40 and 41. The center stake 37 is received by the stake socket 48 in thehub '47-. As seen in FIG. 8 and illustrated by the stake 37, each stakeis hollow, cylindrical in shape, closed at the top end and open at thebottom end. As also illustrated by the stake 37 in FIG. 8,

each stake is provided at its lower end with a radial flange 57 matingwith an annular shoulder 58 so that when the stake is in position withinthe socket 48, it presents a flush surface with the underside of thebase 36. The flange 57 further provides a stop to prevent movement ofthe stake upwardly through the socket of the base. Inasmuch as throwingof the hoop assembly at the target assembly would normally exert a forceon the target assembly such that it would be moved along the ground, aground stake or anchor pin 59 is first set into the ground and then oneof the hollow stakes is telescopically positioned over the anchor pinsuch as illustrated in FIG. 8 where the center stake 37 engages theground pin 59. Accordingly, movement of the target assembly whensubjected to a force by the hoop assembly is prevented.

lar point count willbe given. In the event that one or more of the hoopsengage one or more of the stakes of the same colors, double the pointvalue of the stakes will be given. Should a player align the hoopassembly so that each of the hoops engages'a stake of the same color,the player would'automatically win the game. Otherwise, a game pointtotal of 50 may be used as an objective for a winner. I

Preferably, the base and the stakes are molded of polyethylene of asuitable density and which is precolored in order to obtain the desiredcolors. The anchor pin 59 may be of any suitable material. Further, thesockets for the stakes are formed to prevent bending of the stakesrelative to the base when they are subjected to the force of the hoopassembly.

Another game according to the invention utilizing hoops is illustratedin FIG. 9 wherein a player 63 I throws a hoop assembly 64 toward atarget assembly ing therewith where the headsof the pins are larger 65.The target assembly 65 is substantially identical to the target assembly35 of the previous game with the exception that only three stakes areutilized inasmuch as the hoop assembly 64 includes only three hoops.Accordingly, the game equipment here would include one or more hoopassemblies 64 and one or more target assemblies 65.

The hoop assembly 64 includes a center hoop 68 and outer hoops 69 and70. The center hoop 68 is split and provided with a coupling 71 in orderto secure together the ends, while the outer hoops 69 and arecontinuous. Again, the hoops here and the target assembly will beinjection molded of a suitable plastic. As seen particularly in FIG. 12,at the .split of the center hoop 68 holes orsockets ,72 and 73 areprovided to coact with I the coupling 71 for securing the ends of thehoop together. Quite obviously, the center hoop 68 is split tofacilitate assembly of the center hoop with the outer hoops. Thecoupling 71 includes an upper member 74 and a lower. member 75. Theupper member 74 is dethan the openings and lock the lower member 75 inplace as shown in FIG. 11. Additionally, the heads of the pin 77 may beheat-sealed to further lock them in place.

The target assembly 65 includes a base 80 identical to the base 36 ofthe target assembly 35 and stakes 81, 82 and 83 which are identical tothe stakes used in the target assembly 35. Only three stakes are neededhere inasmuch as the hoop assembly includes only three hoops. The gameequipment, including the hoop and target assemblies, may be used to playa game called Ring-a-Chain. The stakes on the target assembly may be ofdifferent colors and also equal to different point values such as stake81 being red and worth one point, stake 82 being white and worth threepoints, and stake 83 being blue and worth two points. Similarly, thehoops of the hoop assembly would be of different colors wherein thecenter hoop may be white, while the outer hoop 69 is blue and the outerhoop 70 is red. Awarding of points may be done in a similar fashion tothe game candle hoop wherein the ring of a hoop of one color on a candleor stake of another color would result in the awarding of the pointvalue of that stake. Double the point value would be awarded when thecolor of the hoop is matched with that of the stake. Again, in the eventthe player would ring all three hoops on the stakes of matching colors,the player would automatically win the game. Otherwise, a winner may bedeclared if he reaches a predetermined point total, such as 25 points.

All of the equipment used for the games playable, with the exception ofthe sticks used in the Flying Hoops game, will float'on water.Therefore, the games can be played in a swimming pool. This adds to theflexibility of usage and to the enjoyment of the players.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a target assembly wherein aplayer propels the hoop assembly toward the target assembly, said hoopassembly including a plurality of plastic molded hoops of differentcolors rigidly interconnected together to maintain constant the relativelocation of each, said hoop assembly including a center hoop and aplurality of outer hoops and means for tangentially securing the outerhoops to the center hoop in substantially coplanar relation therewith,and said target assembly including a-base having a plurality of spacedupstanding stakes sized so that each and every stake is capable of beingfreely encircled by one of the hoops when perfectly thrown.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the base includes a huband a plurality of arms extending therefrom, and a stake supported atthe hub and at the free end of each arm.

3. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a target assembly wherein aplayer propels the hoop assembly toward the target assembly, said hoopassembly including a plurality of plastic molded hoops of differentcolors rigidly interconnected together to maintain constant the relativelocation of each, said hoop assembly being loosely connected together inchain form and including a center hoop and a pair of outer hoops, saidouter hoops being in the form of solid rings, and said heads, said splitends having openings through which the pins may extend, wherein theplate engages one side of the hoop and the washer engages the oppositeside.

4. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a pair of throwing sticks to beplayed by at least two players where one player using said pair ofsticks engages the hoop assembly and throws same toward the other playerfor catching same on a stick, said hoop assembly comprising a centerhoop and a plurality of outer hoops equally circumferentially spacedapart and attached to the center hoop, the outer hoops being generallytangentially arranged relative the center hoop, coupling means forattaching said outer hoops to said center hoop including male members onthe center hoop and female members on said outer hoops, and said outerhoops being of different colors and of different color than said centerhoop so different point values may be applied to the hoops.

5. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a target assembly wherein aplayer would throw the hoop assembly toward the target assembly, saidhoop assembly including a plurality of hoops rigidly connected togetherin substantially coplanar relation with each other with one center hoopand a plurality of outer hoops tangentially connected to the center.hoop, thehoops being of different colors to allow different point valuesapplicable to each, said target assembly including a base and aplurality of stakes on the base extending upwardly in a general verticaldirection, the-stakes being of different colors and of the same numberas the hoops of the hoop assembly and sized so that each and every stakeis capable of being freely encircled by one of the hoops when perfectlythrown.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the base of the targetassembly includes a hub and a plurality of arms extending radiallyoutward therefrom, a stake socket in the hub and at the end of each arm,said stakes being received and supported in the stake sockets.

7. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a target assembly wherein aplayer would throw the hoop assembly toward the target assembly, saidhoop assembly including a plurality of hoops connected together in chainform with a center hoop and a pair of outer hoops, the hoops being ofdifferent colors to allow different point values applicable to each,said target assembly including a base and a plurality of stakes on thebase extending upwardly in a general vertical direction, the stakesbeing of different colors and of the same number as the hoops of thehoop assembly and sized so that each and every stake is capable of beingfreely .encircled by one of the hoops when perfectly thrown.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the base of the targetassembly includes a hub and a plurality of arms extending radiallyoutward therefrom, a stake socket in the hub and at the end of each arm,said stakes being received and supported in the stake sockets.

9. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a target assembly wherein aplayer propels the hoop assembly toward the target assembly, said hoopassembly includ- 7 ing a plurality of plastic molded hoops of differentcolors rigidly interconnected together to maintain constant the relativelocation of each, said hoop assembly including a center hoop and aplurality of outer hoops and means for tangentially securing the outerhoops to bly including at least one stick-like member.

1. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a target assembly wherein aplayer propels the hoop assembly toward the target assembly, said hoopassembly including a plurality of plastic molded hoops of differentcolors rigidly interconnected together to maintain constant the relativelocation of each, said hoop assembly including a center hoop and aplurality of outer hoops and means for tangentially securing the outerhoops to the center hoop in substantially coplanar relation therewith,and said target assembly including a base having a plurality of spacedupstanding stakes sized so that each and every stake is capable of beingfreely encircled by one of the hoops when perfectly thrown.
 2. Thecombination as defined in claim 1 wherein the base includes a hub and aplurality of arms extending therefrom, and a stake supported at the huband at the free end of each arm.
 3. A game comprising a hoop assemblyand a target assembly wherein a player propels the hoop assembly towardthe target assembly, said hoop assembly including a plurality of plasticmolded hoops of different colors rigidly interconnected together tomaintain constant the relative location of each, said hoop assemblybeing loosely connected together in chain form and including a centerhoop and a pair of outer hoops, said outer hoops being in the form ofsolid rings, and said inner hoop being in the form of a split ring andhaving coupling means at the split ends, said coupling means including aplate having a pair of pins with enlarged heads extending therefrom anda washer with openings to align with the pins being of smaller size thanthe heads, said split ends having openings through which the pins mayextend, wherein the plate engages one side of the hoop and the washerengages the opposite side.
 4. A game comprising a hoop assembly and apair of throwing sticks to be played by at least two players where oneplayer using said pair of sticks engages the hoop assembly and throwssame toward the other player for catching same on a stick, said hoopassembly comprising a center hoop and a plurality of outer hoops equallycircumferentially spaced apart and attached to the center hoop, theouter hoops being generally tangentially arranged relative the centerhoop, coupling means for attaching said outer hoops to said center hoopincluding male members on the center hoop and female members on saidouter hoops, and said outer hoops being of different colors and ofdifferent color than said center hoop so different point values may beapplied to the hoops.
 5. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a targetassembly wherein a player would throw the hoop assembly toward thetarget assembly, said hoop assembly including a plurality of hoopsrigidly connected together in substantially coplanar relation with eachother with one center hoop and a plurality of outer hoops tangentiallyconnected to the center hoop, the hoops being of different colors toallow different point values applicable to each, said target assemblyincluding a base and a plurality of stakes on the base extendingupwardly in a general vertical direction, the stakes being of differentcolors and of the same number as the hoops of the hoop assembly andsized so that each and every stake is capable of being freely encircledby one of the hoops when perfectly thrown.
 6. The combination as definedin claim 5, wherein the base of the target assembly includes a hub and aplurality of arms extending radially outward therefrom, a stake socketin the hub and at the end of each arm, said stakes being received andsupported in the stake sockets.
 7. A game comprising a hoop assembly anda target assembly wherein a player would throw the hoop assembly towardthe target assembly, said hoop assembly including a plurality of hoopsconnected together in chain form with a center hoop and a pair of outerhoops, the hoops being of different colors to allow different pointvalues applicable to each, said target assembly including a base and aplurality of stakes on the base extending upwardly in a general verticaldirection, the stakes being of different colors and of the same numberas the hoops of the hoop assembly and sized so that each and every stakeis capable of being freely encircled by one of the hoops when perfectlythrown.
 8. The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the base ofthe target assembly includes a hub and a plurality of arms extendingradially outward therefrom, a stake socket in the hub and at the end ofeach arm, said stakes being received and supported in the stake sockets.9. A game comprising a hoop assembly and a target assembly wherein aplayer propels the hoop assembly toward the target assembly, said hoopassembly including a plurality of plastic molded hoops of differentcolors rigidly interconnected together to maintain constant the relativelocation of each, said hoop assembly including a center hoop and aplurality of outer hoops and means for tangentially securing the outerhoops to the center hoop in substantially coplanar relation therewith,said securing means including coacting pins with enlarged heads andsockets, and said target assembly including at least one stick-likemember.